Watch& Learn

Last week, one of my students, confessed that he spends his evenings watching Lupin... in English! When I asked him why not in French, he said, "It’s too hard, I don’t understand anything!"

This reaction is totally normal. At first, watching a series in another language can feel overwhelming. The dialogues seem too fast, the expressions unfamiliar, and your brain struggles to keep up. But trust me, with the right approach, you can turn Netflix into your best French teacher and have a great time doing it!

Today, I’m sharing my foolproof method to transform your Netflix sessions into real learning experiences. A vos marques, prêt, partez !

Why Are Series Your Best Allies?

Watching French series isn’t just a fun way to relax—it’s actually an incredible learning tool. Here’s why:

• You hear authentic French, just as it’s spoken in everyday life.

• You discover common and modern expressions, which will make you sound more natural when you speak.

• You immerse yourself in French culture, from Parisian streets to small villages, learning cultural nuances that no textbook can teach.

• You associate learning with pleasure, making the process feel effortless (just like in a session with your favorite tutor!).

By integrating French into your leisure activities, you’ll improve your comprehension without even realizing it—and that’s on of the keys to making real progress.

Need some inspiration? Check out my previous article where I’ve listed 10 amazing French series to start with: 10 Fantastic French Shows for Learners to Watch on Netflix in the USA

My 4-Step Method to Learn French with Netflix:

To get the most out of your viewing experience, I recommend this structured approach. It allows your brain to gradually adapt to the French language without feeling overwhelmed:

1. First viewing – Watch in original French, but with English subtitles to understand the general plot and characters. I've tried many times to watch German show without subtitles. Being an intermediate speaker, trust me, I failed every time to watch a complete episode .... This step is crucial to avoid frustration and grasp the meaning of what's going on. Remember, I promised you some fun too !

2. Second viewing – Switch to French subtitles to connect the written words with the spoken language. You’ll start recognizing patterns and structures naturally. For those of view, like me, who are essentially visual learners, it's a great way to start memorizing but 'fixing' the spelling to what you hear at the same time.

3. Take notes on new expressions – This step can feel a bit more strenuous, but will take you a long way into improving your French. Pause the episode whenever you hear an interesting phrase. Write it down in a notebook or record a vocal in a digital app. You can write down sentences you are unsure about but keep coming back (those will probably reveal being very useful once you've checked their meaning), or sentences you understand and would love to use more in French. In both cases, check the meaning later on, after the end of the show or on the following day (doing it during the show will take the fun away from watching).

4. Final viewing – Challenge yourself to rewatch you favorite episode without subtitles ! Even if you don’t catch everything, you’ll be surprised by how much you understand, and how much you start memorizing ! I'd recommend to keep that final step for some of the episodes only, or for your very favorite show, this way watching it 'only in French' will feel like a reward !

Trust the process! Your brain will adjust little by little, and soon enough, you’ll find yourself understanding dialogues without effort. Try to watch at least 3 episodes every week to keep up with your improvements !

💡 Bonus Tip: Try shadowing, a powerful technique where you repeat what the characters are saying right after them. Choose a short scene, slow it down if necessary, and mimic the pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm of the speech. It’s a fun and effective way to improve your speaking skills and sound more natural in French!

Ready to Turn Netflix into a Learning Session?

Now it’s your turn! Which series are you going to start with? Let me know in the comments! If you’re already watching one, share your favorite new French expressions—I’d love to hear them!

PS: Stay tuned for my next article, where I’ll share my favorite French podcasts to help you improve even more… and of course, keep having fun while learning!

written by Estelle Materne